Amphetamine derivatives, such as the 'party' drug ecstasy and the antidepressant Prozac, could potentially help treat lymphoma according to a new study from the University of Birmingham (Meredith, E. J. et al. FASEB J. 3 May 2005 (10.1096/fj.04-3477fje)).
After finding that the serotonin receptor was involved in mediating apoptosis in lymphoma cells, John Gordon and his team tested the effects of several antidepressants that target this receptor, on various lymphoma-derived B-cell lines. They found that these drugs had significant antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on the tumour cells. “This is quite a breakthrough in medical research into the treatment of lymphoma cancers, including some types of leukemia,” said Professor Gordon, “The success of anti-depressants on slowing down the cancer is very exciting.” (Washington Times, 12 May 2005.) At present, the doses of these drugs that would be required to block cancer growth would be fatal, but, referring to ecstasy, a member of the team, Nick Barnes, is hopeful: “Perhaps by breaking down the actions of this designer drug we can extract its cancer-killing properties from the more general toxic effects that are associated with its use.” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/, 10 May 2005). David Grant, of the Leukaemia Research Fund, who funded the study, said: “The possibility some patients can be treated with anti-depressants that have cancer-killing properties is truly remarkable.” (http://www.mirror.co.uk/, 11 May 2005).
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